Cloth folding machine



APl'll 2, 1940- c. H. cooLlDGE ET AL 2,196,103

CLOTH FOLDING MACHINE Filed OC. 19, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l zzz. v l l l :l

GAM,

April 2, 1940- c. H. coLlDGE ET A1. 2,195,103

CLOTH FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 x l l I u l l l l t .4

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lll Jr--- www April 2, 1940. c. H. cooLlDGE ETAL CLOTH FOLDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 y Filed Oct. 19, 1936 5o@ Nw L @95 Patented Apr. 2,1940

UNITED STATES llArElSrr OFFICE oLo'rHFoLDING MACHINE Charles H. Coolidge and Leland F. Reming|;on`

Worcester, Mass., assigncrs to Curtis & Marble Machine Company, Worcester, poration of Massachusetts( Mass., a cor- Applieationf october 19, 1936', yserial No. v1116,40?.

l 12 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for folding pieces of cloth in textile finishing plants. The cloth to be yfolded is commonly placed in the machine inthe form of a large roll containing `several hundred yards of cloth, each roll comprising several separate pieces of cloth stitched together end .to end. During the folding operation, it is customary to stop the machine, cut the seam, and remove each piece of cloth separately after it has beenfolded.

It is the general object of our invention to provide improved automatic mechanism which will act to stop the machine whenever a seam appears at a given point. We also provide for similarly stopping the machine when the end of a roll of cloth is reached. s A further object of our invention is to provide automatic mechanism which will stop the machine with the folding blades in a predetermined position, regardless of the point in the folding cycle at which the stopping indication is given.

. Our invention further relates to arrangements andcombinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. f

Preferred forms of `the invention the drawings, in which l Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a folding machine havngour improvements applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, 'partly in are shown in i section, of the seam-detecting and indicating mechanism and associated parts; l

Fig. 3 is a partial front View, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2;

I Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of certain parts,

l Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view'of the electrical ing 4machine. .comprising a frame 2 on` whichI cross bars or stationary jaws |4 and I5 are 'se` curely mounted. The cloth C is threaded between apair of front and rear folding blades |6 and |65, pivotally mounted at the upper ends of a pair of swinging armsh|8 which oscillate about connected by pulleys 26 and 27 and a ,second belt 28 to a second countershaft30. The shaft 3D is in turn connected through pulleys 3| and32 and a third belt 33 to alvldriving motor M. Through the connections described thecrank shaft 22 is drivenat4 substantially reducedspeed from the motor M.

VA clothtable` 35 is yieldingly pressed upward against, the jaws |4 and |5. Suitable mechanism, not shown, is provided for normally pressing-the table upwardv against the jaws and for alternately relieving the upward pressure at one end ,or the other of the table as the cloth is folded. In starting the folding operation it is custcmary to thread the cloth between the blades I6 and I6a when the blades yhave moved part` way rearwardand are substantially` in the positionv shown in Fig. 1. 'The end of the cloth is then broughtforward and inserted-between the front end ofthe table and the front holding jaw |4. vTheymachine is then started, causing the blade I6 to insert a fold of cloth between the rear end of the table 35 and the rear jaw I5, which fold is immediately clamped againstthe jaw |5by theyielding upward pressure of the table. Ay fold is'then inserted under the front jaw I4 by the folding blade IB, these blades being rocked as the armscl yarel oscillated by a guide rod .37 slidable in a bearing 38 having a swivel support on a fixed upper frame member 40. v f The cloth from the previously mentioned cloth roll is drawn into the machine over an upper platform or supporting structure 4| and passes around a. guide roll 42 rotatably mounted at the front endv thereof. The vparts thus far describedk are of the usual construction and operate in the usual manner and in themselves form nol part of our present invention, which relates particularly to mechanism' fory automatically stopping the folding lblades |'6' and4 |6, ina'predetermined position whenever afseam'r end of cloth approaches the foldingmchanism, y

For the purpose of detecting the approach of a seam or of the end of the roll, we provide a clothsupporting roll 44 mounted in bearing brackets 45 secured to the upper supporting structure 4|. We also provide a detector roll 41 mounted in arms 48 pivoted at 49 to the upper ends of the brackets 45. As the cloth C is drawn over the supporting roll 44, it is lightly engaged by the roll 41 as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, and on the approach of a seam S the detector roll 41 will be swung easily to the left in said figure.

A screw 59 is threaded in a block 5| mounted on one of the arms 48, and the end of the screw 50 engages a plunger 52 which supports a trip switch member 53 adapted to close a circuit between terminals 54 and 55 for a purpose to be described. A spring 56 is provided for closing the switch, and the switch is normally held open by the weight or the detector roll 41 and associated parts.

When the roll 41 is engaged by a seam S and is swung to the left in Fig. Z, the pressure on the plunger 52 is momentarily relieved and the spring 56 will move the trip switch member 53 to complete the circuit between the terminals 54 and 55.

In order to adapt the detector apparatus to diiierent thicknesses of cloth, the screw 59 is provided with an enlarged head 51 having notches 58 to receive a. holding catch 59 mounted on the swinging arm 48. By use of the head 51, the screw 58 may be adjusted as desired and may be iirmly retained in adjusted position.

As the cloth C leaves the detector rolls, it passes under a cross rod 60 and over one or more fixed supporting drop bars 6|. The drop rod 6U is mounted in arms 62 threaded radially into the supporting roll 44 previously described. A cam plate 84 is also ilXed in position on the supporting roll 44.

As long as cloth is passing through the machine, the drop rod 6l) is supported in the position shown in Fig. 2 and the cam plate 64 is maintained in the inoperative position also shown in Fig. 2.

When the end of the roll of cloth is reached, however', the drop rod 69 is released and swings downward by gravity, turning the roll 44 to the position shown in Fig. 5, in which position the cam plate 64 engages the detector roll 41 and swings the roll 41 and arms 48 to the left, thus permitting the trip switch 53 to close as previously described.

The electrical equipment for controlling the operation of the motor M includes, in addition to the trip switch 53, a main starting switch G (Fig. l), a relay mechanism R and a cam controlled switch mechanism W.

The construction of the latter switch mechanism is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. A cam 1U is mounted on the crank shaft 22 and is engaged by a cam roll 1l mounted on the end of an arm 12, which arm is xed on a stud 13 pivoted in fixed bearings in a switch box 14 in which terminal plates 15 and 16 Iare mounted. The cam 15 has a short low portion 19. A second arm 8l] is loosely pivoted on the stud 13 and is preferably formed of insulating material but supports a roll 8l of conducting material. The arm 80 is provided with an offset abutment 82 positioned to normally engage the under side of the arm 12.

A light spring 83 .acts to move the arm 8U and conducting roll 8| toward the terminal plates 15 and 16, and a heavier spring 84 acts to hold the roll 1| against the cam 1D. The relation of the abutment 82 to the arm 12 is such that when the roll 1| is on the high part of the cam 10, the arm E2 will be clear from the abutment 82 and the spring 83 will be free to close the circuit between the terminals 15 and 16.

The connections and operation of the various parts of the electrical equipment which control the starting and stopping of our improved foldingmachine are indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 8.

One line wire L is connected through a holding coil or solenoid 99 to one side of a starting switch or button 9| and to upper and lower contacts at one side of a manual-control or jog button 92. The opposite side of the starting switch 9| and the upper contact of the jog switch 92 are directly connected to the second line wire L.

When the starting switch is closed, a circuit is thus completed through the holding coil 90, s that the coil is energized and the main switch G is closed, thus starting the motor M. At the same time the solenoid 95 closes a holding switch K.

The manuahcontrol or jog switch 92 is doubleacting and normally closes the circuit between the lower contacts of said switch. The second lower contact 93 is connected through a wire 94 and branch wire 95 to contacts 15 and 96.

The contact 'i5 is in the cam switch mechanisni W previously described and is closed by the contact member 3i when the cam switch is in the position shown in Fig. 7, but is open as indicated in Fig. 8 when the roll 1| (Fig. 7 engages the low part E8 of the cam 19.

The contact 95 and its associated contact 91 are normally connected by a double-acting switch 98 controlled by a relay coil or solenoid 99. The contacts 15 and 91 are both connected through the holding switch K to the second line wire L.

After the holding switch K has been closed by momentarily closing the starting switch 9| as previously described, the circuit through the holding coil or solenoid 90 will be maintained through the lower contacts of the jog switch 92 and through the contacts 96 and 91 and lower member of switch 98, even after the starting switch 9| has been released.

During a portion of the time, the holding circuit is also completed through the contacts 15 and 16 and cam switch member 8|, which parts form a circuit in parallel with that through the parts 96, 91 and relay switch 98.

As long as either one of these parallel circuits is closed, the holding coil 90 will be energized and the main switch G will remain closed, so that the motor M will continue operating.

The relay coil 99 is in a branch circuit which includes a stop switch or button lll with contacts lol and le? and also includes in a parallel branch the trip switch 53 with contacts 54 and 55 previously described.

The contact 92 of the stop switch is connected to the wire 94 previously described, and the contact 55 of the trip switch is connected to one side of the holding switch K and to an upper contact |83 of the double-acting switch 98, the second upper contact |94 of which is` connected to the wire which connects the relay coil 99 to the stop and trip switches.

Assuming that the motor M is in operation as previously described and assuming that the trip switch is closed by approach of a seam or the end of the cloth, the stopping of the machine at a predetermined point will be eiected as follows:

When the trip switch 53 closes, the relay coil circuit is completed through the. holding switch and P to receive a belt controlled in position by K to the second line wire L' and the relay coil -99 is' energized to raise the double-acting relay switch 98, breaking the circuits between the contacts 96 and 91 and completing a holding circuit through the contacts |03 and |04.' f 'I The motor M will still continuato operate as long as the cam switch 8| holds the circuit between the contacts 15 and 16 closed. When the low point 10'v of thev cam 10 permits the cam switch 8| to open, however, the holding circuit through the solenoid 90 is broken and the main switch G opens, thus stopping the machine in a position determined solely by the setting of the cam 10 relative to the crank arms 2|.

If it is desired to stop the machine manually at any time, the stop button is pushed to close the stop switch |00, thus completing the relay coil circuit through thecontacts I0| and |02, wires 94 and 95 and switches 98 and 8| which are normally closed in parallel branch circuits.

The relay coil 99 is thus energized as previously described to shift the switch 98, and the machine is thereafter stopped in predetermined position by the opening of the cam switch 8|.

The so-called jog switch v92 is used for momentarily energizing the motor M to move the folding blades by'short steps to a desired position for threading or cloth removal. 'I'he jog switch 92 is normally inlowered position as' indicated in Fig.` 8 but when raised by pressing the jog button, it completes a circuit through the upper contacts of the jog switch which corresponds to the circuit initialli7 established by closing the starting switch 9|.

So long, however, as the switch 92 is in raised position, no holding circuit willvbe maintained, as the connection to the terminal 93 is broken. Consequentlyl the main switch G will open as soon as the circuit through the upper contacts of the switch 92 is broken and the motor will stop.

We have thus provided control mechanism such that the machine can be placed in continued operation by momentarily closing the starting switch 9|, can be stopped in predetermined position by the stop switch |00 or by the trip switch 53, and can be intermittently operated by the jog or manual-control switch 92.

By the use of the parallel circuits for the cam switch 8| and the lower contacts of the double-acting relay switch 98, the stop or trip switches may be actuated at any point in the folding cycle but the machine will stop only when the cam switch 8| is thereafter opened by operation of the cam 10 on the crankshaft 22. By angularly adjusting the cam 10 on the crank shaft 22, the machine may be stopped in any 4desired position, themotor M being preferably of the brake type.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the application of our invention to a belt-driven machine. In Fig. 9 we have shown the crank arm 2|, crank shaft 22, and cam 10a, all substantially as previously described, and have also shown the crankshaft 22 as provided with tight and loose pulleys P a shipper rod H0 and shipper ngersY The shipper rod is moved to inoperative position by a spring ||2 and is maintained in operative position by a latch ||4 which engages a collar ||5,on.the shipper rod. The latch |4 may be mounted on the plunger ||6 of a solenoid |20'.

When the solenoid is energized, the latch is raised and the shipper rod will be released to move the belt to the loose pulley P.

The electrical controlv circuit for this modied construction is shown in Fig. 10 and comprises a line wire L connected by branch circuits to a. solenoid |20 and to a relay coil |2|.

The solenoid |20 is connected to one of the contacts 16 of a` cam-operated switch corresponding in all respects to the switch previously described and including a switch member 8| and second contact 15. The contact 15 is connected to one terminal |22 of a relay switch |23 controlled by the relayv coil |2I.

AThe second contact I 24 of the relay switch is connected to a wire |25 which in turn connects one contact 54 of a trip switch 53 with one contact |26 of a shipper switch |21. The latter switch is closed so long as the shipper rod is in the position shown in Fig. 9 but is opened when the shipper rod moves to the right in Fig. 9, causing the collar H5 to engage and depress a roll |28 mounted on an arm |29 forming a part of the shipper switch. Thevsecond contact |30 of the shipper switch is connected to the second line wire L. f

'I'he operation of these switches and circuits is as follows: The shipper switch |21 is closed on the starting of the machine but no through circuit is completed. When the trip switch is thereafter closed on the approach of a seam or of the end of the cloth, a circuit is completed through the relay coil |2| which in turn effects'closing of the relay switch |23, thus completing a holding circuit for the coil |2I through the switch |23 and around the trip switch 53.

The circuit is now completed through the solenoid |20 except at the cam switch 8|. The cam 10a operates the same as the cam 10 shown in Figs. 7 and 8, except that the cam l0a has a very short raised portion |32 as shown in Fig. 11, so that the cam is normally open but'is closed momentarily at a selected point in each revolution of the crank shaft 22.

After the closing of the trip switch 53, the solenoid I 20 will accordingly not be energized until. the high point |32 of the cam 10a closes the switch 8l, which closing will thus be in timed relation to the rotation of the crank shaft 22.

As soon as the circuit through the cam switch 8| is closed, the solenoid |20 will be energized, raising the latch H4 and releasing the shipper rod, thus stopping .the machine. As soon as the shipper rod is released, the roll |28 is engaged by the collar I l5 and is depressed to open the shipper switch |21, thus breaking the holding circuitv and again releasing the latch H4.

With both forms of our apparatus, it will be seen that the machine is automatically controlled and that the stopping of the machine takes place with the crank arms and folding blades in a predetermined position, regardless of the point in the cycle of operations at which the stopping indication is given.

Any desired stopping position may be attained by varying the setting of the cam 10 or 10a on the crank shaft 22, but it is usually preferred to stop the parts somewhat beyond the middle of the backward stroke and substantially in the position shown in Fig. 1. This position is mostconvenient for threading up the machine and also for removal of the folded cloth, and is also a safety position. In case of accidental starting of the machine the folding blades will move from the stopping position in a directionaway'from rather than toward the operator.

With our stopping mechanism in use, it is un- CII necessary for the operator to watch for seams or cloth ends.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what we claim is:

l. In a machine for transversely folding an elongated strip of cloth in superposed layers and having folding blades, means to oscillate said blades, and a seam-detector and stopping mechanism, the combination with said seam-detector and stopping mechanism of means to effect operation of said stopping mechanism to stop the machine at a single predetermined point only in the folding cycle on indication of a seam by said detector.

2. In a machine for transversely folding an elongated strip of cloth in superposed layers and having folding blades, means to oscillate said blades, and a seam-detector and stopping mechanism, the combination with said seam-detector and stopping mechanism of means to effect operation of said stopping mechanism to stop the machine with the blades at an intermediate point in their rearward travel only, on indication of a seam by said detector.

3. In a machine for transversely folding an elongated strip of cloth in superposed layers and having folding blades, means to oscillate said blades, and a seam-detector and stopping mechanism, the combination with said seam-detector and stopping mechanism of additional means ef1 fective to detect a cloth end and means to effect operation of said stopping mechanism to stop the machine at a predetermined point only in the folding cycle on indication of a seam by said detector or a cloth end by said additional means.

4. A machine for transversely folding an elongated strip of cloth in superposed layers comprising folding and driving mechanism, manually controlled starting mechanism therefor, means to detect the presence of either a seam or a cloth end in said machine, and an automatically controlled device effective to stop said machine in a predetermined position only, on indication by said detecting means of either a seam or a cloth end in said machine.

5. In a machine for transversely folding an elongated strip of cloth in superposed layers and having folding blades, means to oscillate said blades, and a seam-detector and stopping mechanism, the combination with said seam-detector and stopping mechanism of means to effect operation of said stopping mechanism to stop the machine at a single predetermnied point only in the folding cycle after said detector has been engaged by a seam at any point in said folding cycle.

6. A machine for transversely folding an elongated strip of cloth in superposed layers comprising folding mechanism, driving mechanism therefor, a seam-detecting device, means to initiate stopping of said machine on indication of seam appearance in said machine by said detecting device, and additional means to complete stopping of said machine after such indication and at a predetermined point only in the cloth folding cycle.

7. A machine for transversely folding an elongated strip of cloth in superposed layers comprising folding mechanism, driving mechanism therefor, manual means to initiate stopping of said machine, and automatic means effective to thereafter complete stopping of said machine at a predetermined point only in the cloth folding cycle.

8. A machine for transversely folding an elongated strip of cloth in superposed layers comprising folding mechanism, driving mechanism therefor, a seam detector, and stopping mechanism controlled thereby and effective to stop the machine after indication and at a predetermined point only in the folding cycle, said latter mechanism including two parallel branch electric control circuits, one of which circuits is opened on seam detection and the other of which is periodically opened at a predetermined point in the folding cycle, and said machine being stopped only when both of said parallel circuits are simultaneously open.

9. A machine for transversely folding an elongated strip of cloth in superposed layers comprising folding mechanism, driving mechanism therefor, a seam detector, and stopping mechanism controlled thereby and effective to stop the machine after indication and at a predetermined point only in the folding cycle, said latter mechanism including a solenoid and two parallel branch electric control circuits, one of which circuits is opened on seam detection and thereafter held open by said solenoid and the other of which is periodically opened at a pretermined point in the folding cycle, and said machine being stopped only when both of said parallel circuits are simultaneously open.

10. A machine for transversely folding an elongated strip of cloth in superposed layers comprising folding mechanism, driving mechanism there for, a seam detector, a movable member controlling said driving mechanism, a latch for said member, and means to release said latch at a predetermined point only in the folding cycle on indication of a seam in said machine by said detector at any point in said cycle.

l1. A machine for transversely folding an elongated strip of cloth in superposed layers comprising folding mechanism, driving mechanism therefor, a seam detector, a movable member controlling said driving mechanism, a latch for said member, and means to release said latch at a predetermined point only in the folding cycle on indication of a seam in said machine by said detector at any point in said cycle, said latter means including a latch-releasing solenoid and two electric switches in series, said solenoid being operative only when said switches are simultaneously in closed position.

l2. A machine for transversely folding an elonl gated strip of cloth in superposed layers comprising folding mechanism, driving mechanism therefor, a seam detector, a movable member controlling said driving mechanism, a latch for said member, and means to release said latch at a predetermined point only in the folding cycle on indication of a seam in said machine by said detector at any point in said cycle, said latter means including a latch-releasing solenoid and two electric switches in series, said solenoid being operative only when said switches are simultaneously in closed position, one of said switches being controlled by said seam detector and the other switch being automatically closed at a predetermined point in each folding cycle.

CHARLES H. COOLDDGE. LELAND F. REMINGTON. 

